In fact, this is a digestive condition where stomach acid comes in to contact with the esophagus causing irritation. The result is feeling a burning sensation that starts on the diaphragm all the way to the chest. Usually, heartburn is accompanied by a sour or bitter taste, which is primarily the stomach acid you regurgitated and made its way to your mouth. This can also cause you to experience persistent heartburn or pyrosis and if it is already affecting your quality of life, surgical intervention may be needed to treat the problem. Basically Hiatal Hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes upwards through the hiatus, which is a space in the diaphragm. The Causes of Heartburn and Why You Should Take It Seriously Have you ever experienced feeling a burning sensation that starts in your upper abdomen and builds up just behind your breastbone and that the pain and burning sensation is often accompanied by a sour taste in your mouth? If you have, then you are suffering from a condition called heartburn. Proton pump inhibitors may also be prescribed by your doctor if you continue to experience heartburn. This type of drug will prevent the stomach from secreting acid. Usually taken once a day, these drugs are usually very effective in easing heartburn symptoms. And, these drugs are usually prescribed if no other drugs helped your heartburn condition. You really don t have to give up on foods like this but you may want to limit it in order for you to decrease the frequency of heartburn. Besides, you wouldn t want to give up eating oranges or grapefruit, would you? These things are not only delicious but they are also rich in vitamins. Remember these things and you can be sure that you will be able to control heartburn more effectively. But, you do have to limit it. Also, increasing fiber intake will help bind stomach acids together, which will help in preventing heartburn. Smoking is one of the main triggers of heartburn. The nicotine you inhale will increase the production of stomach acid and it will also weaken the LES or the lower esophageal sphincter.